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A dual respiratory and auditory function for the coelacanth lung.

Luigi Manuelli1,2, Gaël Clément3, Marc Herbin4

  • 1Department of Earth Sciences, Natural History Museum of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. Luigi.manuelli@unige.ch.

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Fossil coelacanths had ossified lungs that likely aided hearing. New research suggests these ancient fish used their lungs for both respiration and transmitting sound to their inner ears.

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Area of Science:

  • Paleontology
  • Comparative Anatomy
  • Functional Morphology

Background:

  • Coelacanths are crucial for understanding sarcopterygian evolution.
  • The function of ossified chambers in fossil coelacanths remains debated, with proposed respiratory or auditory roles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the function of ossified chambers in fossil coelacanths.
  • To compare lung and inner ear anatomy between extinct and extant coelacanths.

Main Methods:

  • Synchrotron phase-contrast microCT scans of fossil coelacanths.
  • Analysis of developmental stages of extant Latimeria chalumnae.
  • 3D reconstructions and histological examination of coelacanth specimens.

Main Results:

  • Fossil coelacanths possessed an ossified lung.
  • This lung structure could transmit sound pressure to the inner ear via a perilymphatic system.
  • Evidence suggests a dual respiratory and auditory function for the extinct coelacanth lung.

Conclusions:

  • Extinct coelacanths likely utilized their ossified lungs for both breathing and hearing.
  • This finding offers new insights into the functional morphology of early sarcopterygians.